Artificial tree package



1961 N. PAUL ETAL 3,003,623

ARTIFICIAL TREE PACKAGE Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Oct. 10, 1961 N. PAUL EI'AL ARTIFICIAL TREE PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1959 United States PatentQC 3,003,623 ARTIFICIAL TREE PACKAGE Nathan Paul and Clarence D; Reece, Chicago,'lll., as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Mard Continental,

Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 18, 1959, Ser. No. 813,826

4 Claims. (01. 206-46) This invention relates generally to improvements in packaging and more particularly, relates to a novel method of packaging and the package product resulting from said method as specially pertains to an artificial branch of an expansible and crushable character. In our co-pending application, Serial No. 763,886 filed September 29, 1958, now Patent No. 2,893,149, for the invention entitled Artificial Tree, there is described and claimed an artificial tree comprised of a trunk and a plurality of branch members of substantially the same length removably secured to the trunk at varying angles of inchnation relative to and along the length of the trunk to provide a conical configuration simulating a natural tree Each branch comprised a stem in the form of a metal rod upon which was helically wrapped a feathered strip of metal foil, such as aluminum. Upon the strip being so wrapped, the fillets feathered out radially along the length of the rod. Among the advantages of the artificial tree embodying the invention of-our co-pending application was-the ease and facility with which the tree could be collapsed and assembled.- Thus, there was provided animproved artificial tree Which could be shipped and storaged in knock-down condition and in this connection, an exemplary container for the collapsed tree was illustrated in FIG. -14 of said-application.

Said container of the co-pendingapplication comprised a corrugated container, for instance, onthe bottom wall of which was supported a pad structure of generally channel-shaped configuration.- The connecting web of the pad structure hada-plurality of holes into each of which was engaged the exposed'end of the stem of a branch member. The branch-members thus were supported uprighton 'the' pad structure and in the space provided between the parallel legs of the pad was stored the pedestal for the trunk and the trunkmember, which in this case was illustrated as comprised of, a pair of mating component parts. Since the branches were supported upright on the pad structure, the size of the container had tobe selected to suitably accommodate all of the upright branches and-still provide sufficient space below the pad forthe pedestal and the trunk member. Consequently, and especially in; the case of the larger trees, such as-resulted-from employing the trunk member and number-"of branches as contemplated by FIG. 15 of said co-pending application, a bulky and cumbersome package resulted. The container of said co-pending ap plication was relativelyexpensive-both as to manufacture and cost of shipping therein, which included the cost of labor involved in loading the container. Also, because of the size of the cartons employed, the cost of storage thereof even in unerected condition and the cost of loading area and shipping area to accommodate the loaded packages until shipped was considerable,

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to substantially eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a novel method of packaging such artificial branches and the novel package product resulting from employing said method all in accordance with the herein invention.

' Because the branches of said co-pending application were provided with metal foil fillets or feathers protruding radially outward along the length of the stems thereof, great care had to be exercised to avoid crushing of the fillets during shipment and storage of the branches.

3,003,623 Patented Oct. 10, I961 This was responsible for the relatively large container heretofore used and considerably hampered the solution; of the problemof providing an improved package and method of packaging for the branches which would avoid the disadvantages hereintofore mentioned. Also, the metal foil contributed only to a limited amount of rcsil: iency for the fillets of the branches and hence, the-fillets were readily crushable. These problems are all solved advantageously by the herein invention by providing a novel method of packaging such crushable and expansible. artificial branches which comprises telescoping a branch member into a tubular sleeve in the axial direction 'of winding of the foil strip on a branch member.

Another object of the invention to provide a novel method of packaging a branch member of the character described which comprises, telescopically engaging said branch member in an open-ended hollow, tubular container by drawing the branch member into the tube through one open end thereof to collapse the fillets there of around the stem without mutilating and crushing said fillets and thereafter permitting said branch to be with.- drawn from the tube through its opposite end in the same direction as inserted with accompanying expansion-and return of the fillets to their initial condition of wrapping on the stem.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package of the character described comprising, in combination, a tubular sleeve open at both ends thereof, and an artificial branch member having an expansible and crushable filleted material wrapped around the, stem thereof, said branch member adapted to be withdrawn through the open end opposite that through which it is insertable into the tube without crushing and deformation of the branch member. i

' Another object of the invention is to provide the novel method of packaging and the package product resulting therefrom embodying invention which efiects substantial reduction in the size of package as compared to that heretofore employed for a particular size of tree so that more economical and advantageous merchandising and sales promotion techniques can be successfully employed for the artificial tree. "i

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the'ensuing description in connection with which a preferred embodiment .has been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Minor variations in the size, arrangement, proportion and construe.- tion of the several parts of the invention may occur to the skilled artisan without sacrificing any of the advan tages or circumventing the scope thereof. 1

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 through 3 respectively are diagrammatical views showing the successive steps of the method of packaging an expansible and crushable artificial branch in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing the branch member partially withdrawn from its tube package.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a compact bundle of a plurality ofpackaged-branch members.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a branch member in a partially wrapped condition.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the branch member showing the unwrapped end of the stem thereof.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fillet or feather of a said branch member and showing means for increasing the resilience thereof.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a completed package for the collapsible tree capable of being achieved by means of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through the package of FIG. 9.

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FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken through said package along the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the branch member with which the invention is concerned is designated generally by the reference character 29. As explained in said pending application, said branch is comprised of stem or rod 21 preferably of metal upon which is helically wrapped a strip 22 of metal foil, such as aluminum. The strip 22 has a continuous, imperforate border 23 along one longitudinal edge thereof and integral with which are a plurality of fillets or feathers 24 of substantially equal width. Each fillet has -a longitudinal medial crimp '25 extending substantially the entire length thereof (see FIG. 8) which increases the natural resilience of the fillet transverse of its length. In wrapping the foil on the stem, the operation is commenced at one end of the stem and continued to a point on the rod just short of the opposite end 26 which is left exposed to permit mounting of the branch in a branch-receiving opening in the trunk, as explained in said co-pending application. Also, the strip 22 may have a tab 27 secured overits trailing end 28 to hold the wrap in place. To further assist in this connection, the rod 21 may be coated with a suitable adhesive 29 prior to wrapping with the foil.

The particular aluminum foil employed in the wrap '22 may vary, however, particular success has been achieved with an aluminum alloy containing magnesium in small quantities. The magnesium is believed to impart an additional hardness to the foil which increases the resilience of the fillets. Thus, as the strip 22 is wrapped helically on the stem, the fillets or feathers 24 snap radially outward around the stem, the completed branch 20 being shown in FIG. 1.

As will be seen, the fillets 24 are very delicate notwithstanding their being formed of a harder aluminum alloy. These are readily crushed by inadvertent compression thereof and readily distorted and pulled out from the branch. It will now be shown how the invention contributes to the objects claimed therefor.

Referring to FIG. 1, the completed branch 20 is shown poised for telescoping engagement in a tubular sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 is of a conventional construction familiar :in the art of tubular packages. Same may be formed of a helically wound strip or web of paperboard or heavy kraft paper or plastic as a composite formation. The sleeve 50 is open at both of its ends 31 and 32 respectively and preferably is somewhat shorter in length than the overall length of the branch 20 after packaging. The inside diameter of the sleeve also is substantially smaller than the overall diameter of the branch 20. To package the branch 20 in the tube 30, the exposed end 26 of the stem is inserted through an open end, such as 31, of the tube. The branch 20 is then pulled inwardly toward the opposite end 32 of the tube. This may be done by means of a rod or draw string first secured to the end 31 and passed through the tube out of end 32. As seen in FIG. 2, as the branch is drawn into the tube, the fillets of open end 31 to facilitate sliding telescopic engagement of the branch into the tube. The already collapsed portion of the branch received in the tube is illustrated in broken outline at 34 in FIG. 2. The package is shown completed in FIG. 3 wherein allof the branch is protectively received in the tube 30 and only a small portion of the exposed end 26 of the branch stem protrudes out of the open end 32. It will be noted from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the fillets are folded across the crimp 25 adjacent the stem so that the major length of each fillet is compressed toward the stem.

It will be appreciated that packaging of the branch in accordance with the invention may also be accomplished by moving the sleeve relative to the branch by holding the end 31 and sliding the sleeve over the opposite end of the branch toward said end 31. a

The packaged branch is shipped and stored in the con- 24 are collapsed inwardly by the lip 33 4 dition shown in FIG. 3. A large numberof the packaged branches may be conveniently bundled together as shown in FIG. 5 by the reference character 35 and tied by the string or line 36.

Referring to FIGS. 9-.11, the packaging of the branch 271 in accordance'with the invention enables important advantages to be realized in connection with packaging of the entire artificial tree described and claimed in said co-pending application. The fully loaded container is designated generally by the reference character 40 and includes generally a tray part 41 and cover part 42. ther types of packages may be employed such as the familiar corrugated container with-the integral flaps capable of being folded to close the container. The package 40 contains all ofthe component parts of the artificial tree of said co-pending application which includes a pedestal 43, a trunk, which in this case comprises a pair of members 44 and 45 capable of being conjoined end to end to form the completed trunk, and the packaged branches. It will be seen that in the interest of economy of space, the pedestal can be placed in the tray part 43 on an end thereof and canted at an :angle to pernnt a smaller cross-section for the tray part.

In order to appreciate the significant advantages of the invention, a comparison will be made between the size of the container heretofore employed and the container resulting from the invention for the same :size of tree. Illustrated in FIG. 15 of said co-pending application are the component parts for an artificial tree which comprise a 54 inch trunk and 103 branches each of 33 inch overall length. A pedestal for the trunk completes the assem blage heretofore packaged in the containershcwn in FIG. 14 of said co-pending application. The trunk member is shown formed of two parts. The dimensions for the container of FIG. 14 were 54 inches long, 13 inches wide and 33 inches high. Considering now the package 4% capable of holding the same number of component parts, the dimensions thereof were 32 /2 inches long, 9 /2 inches wide and 10 inches high. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the tubular packages containing the branches are laid flat in stacked arrangement leaving room for the pedestal and the trunk components 44 and 45 as shown. It will be noted that the girth plus length of the new package is less than 72 inches which is less than the maximum allowance for parcel post shipment.

It will thus be seen that the invention enables the artificial tree of said co-pending application to be more compactly packaged for shipment and storage. This reduces substantially the costs involved,-and reduces the floor areas heretofore required to load and store the packaged trees. Further advantages as heretofore discussed all flow from the invention. 7

Referring to FIG. 4, to remove the branch 20 from the tube 39, the protruding end 26 of the stem is pulled outwardly withdrawing the branch through the open end 32. As the individual fillets 24 clear the lip of open end 32, they spring outwardly to assume their normal condition prior to packing in the tube 30. The longitudinal crimp 25 is instrumental in this function since each fillet 24 is outwardly bowed, as shown at 46, as it moves past the lip of open end 32 because the fillet is folded somewhat transversely across the crimpr25. Upon clearing the open end 32, the fillet springs outwardly to its normal position as illustrated at 47. Thus, the branch 24 is protected on the interior of the tube 30 atall times during shipment and storage and is readily removed, from the tube with resulting return of the fillets 24 to their original condition.

It is believed the invention has been described in sufficient detail to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice thesame. The invention has been pointed out in the appended claims, it being intended that :the language of the claims be construed commensurate-with the broad scope of the invention. 'Weclaim:

'1. A package product comprising, in combination, a

carton, a knocked-down artificial Christmas tree stored in said carton comprising, a trunk having socket means along the circumference thereof for attaching thereto a plurality of branch members to form said tree, a plurality of expansible and crushable branch members on the interior of the carton each slidably received in an openended cylindrical sleeve with the foliage of the branch compressed around the stem of the branch, said branches being substantially similar in length and said sleeves being the same length, each branch having an extremity thereof accessible through one of said open ends of the sleeve to permit said branch to be slid out of the sleeve through said open end with accompanying expansion of said foliage thereof to its normal condition, and a trunk pedestal in said carton, said sleeves being arranged fiat in stacked arrangement on the interior of the carton so that the size of the carton required is substantially reduced as compared to the volume of space occupied by the branches in their normal condition and a trunk pedestal in said carton.

2. A package product comprising, in combination, a carton, a knocked-down Christmas tree stored in said carton comprising, a trunk, a plurality of like branch members each having a rigid stem and resilient, metal foil fillets extending radially outward along the major portion of the length of the stem, means for compact storage of said branches in the carton without crushing the metal fillets comprising, open ended cylindrical sleeves each having an inner diameter substantially less than the overall diameter of the branch, each branch being slidably received in the interior of a sleeve with the fillets thereof compressed around the stem, said sleeves being identical in length and said branches being substantially similar in length, each branch stem having an extremity thereof accessible through one end of the sleeve for withdrawing the branch therethrough with accompanying expansion of the fillets to their normal condition, said sleeves contain ing the branches being laid flat in stacked arrangement in the car-ton to occupy a fractional portion of the volume of space occupied by said branches in the said normal condition thereof without crushing of said fillets.

3. The package product as claimed in claim 2 and in which there is a pedestal for said trunk in said carton and the length of each sleeve is slightly less than the length of the branch received therein.

4. A package product comprising, in combination, a carton, a knocked-down Christmas tree stored in said carton comprising, a trunk, a plurality of like branch members each having a rigid stem and resilient, metal foil fillets extending radially outward along the major portion of the length of the stem, means for compact storage of said branches in the carton without crushing the metal fillets comprising, open ended cylindrical sleeves each having an inner diameter substantially less than the overall diameter of the branch, each branch being slidably received in the interior of a sleeve with the fillets thereof compressed around the stem, said sleeve and branch respectively being substantially similar in length, each branch stem having an extremity thereof accessible through one end of the sleeve for withdrawing the branch therethrough with accompanying expansion of the fillets to their normal condition, said sleeves containing the branches being laid flat in stacked arrangement in the carton to occupy a fractional portion of the volume of space occupied by said branches in the said normal condition thereof without crushing of said fillets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 267,277 Strasser Nov. 7, 1882 2,574,710 Rodgers Nov. 13, 1951 2,689,642 Franke Sept. 21, 1954 2,720,055 Morris Oct. 11, 1955 2,847,805 Robbins Aug. 19, 1958 2,889,650 Hankus June 9, 1959 UNITED :STATES- PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,003,623 October- 10, 1961 Nathan Paul et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, lines 19 and 20, strike out .and a trunk pedestal in said carton" 4 Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST 'W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

